Interlocking and target-operating switch-stand.



F. C. ANDERSON.

INTERLOCKING AND TARGET OPERATING SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, I914.

1 94, 12. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

r v Q F- C. ANDERSON.

INTERLOCKING AND TARGET OPERATING SWITCHSTAND.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. 1914.

1 ,204, 1 1 2. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Fig. 3 Ir E] U I Witw/esses: entar A W5 U rrnn s rerrns hernias QF FRANK C. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN VALVE & METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, 015.10, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

INTERLOCKING AND TARGET-OPERATING SWITCH-STAND.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANDER- SON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, inv the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interlocking and Target-Operating. Switch- Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch stands; and its object is to simultaneously operate the interlocking mechanism and the target mechanism preliminary to the throwing of the switch. a

My invention consists in the parts andin the details of construction and arrangement of parts as willhereinafter be more fully described and claimed. 7

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a switch stand, its interlocking mechanism and its target, provided with my invention; Fig. 2 is a par tial perspective view of the same, showing vided with my invention; Fig. .2 is a parswitch stand as shown in Fig. 1, the target being omitted and the target shaft being shown in cross section; and Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the lower part ofthe switch stand with the interlocking mechanism shown in section on the line w of Fig. 3.

The switch stand 1 has the main shaft 2 journaled vertically in it, being held'in upper and lower bearings by caps 3 and 4, respectively. Below the lower bearing this shaft has the crank 5 with the crank pin 6, which is adapted to receive the connecting rod, which is connected to the point rails of the switch. Above the upper bearing, this main shaft 2 has, fixed on it, the fulcrum-head 7, said main shaft being supported by this fulcrum-head '7 bearing down against the upper side of the upper bearing. The fulcrunrhead 7 has the switchoperating lever, or handle 8 pivotally swinging on the pivot 9. The top of this switch stand 1 comprises the horizontal plate 10 which has slots 11, v11 and 11", the first two being diametrically opposite on a line through the center of the main shaft 2 and substantially parallel with the track rail, being thus 180 apart; while the third slot 11" is at the rear of the stand half way between or 90 from the slots 11 and 11. The handle or lever 8 is adapted'to engage Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 18, 1914.

Patented Nov. 7, 1016.

Serial No. 872,744.

in any. one of these slots. As the switch stand is here shown, the main shaft 2 is adapted to be turned through an angle of 90 to throw the switch, and the handle or lever 8 is adapted to engage in the slot 11 when the switch is closed as shown, or in the slot 11" when the switch is opened. The slot 11 is provided where the switch stand is adapted to have its main shaft 2 turned through 180 to throw the switch. Also this other slot. 11' comes into use, and the slot 11 into disuse, where the stand is to have its shaft 2 operated through only 90 but where it is desired that the handle or lever 8 be at the other side of the stand when it has closed the switch, as is the case when the switch turns out in the opposite direction from that here shown. Such an arrangement is necessary in connection with the proper arrangement of the interlocking mechanism. For this reason also, the

crank 5 may be provided with four arms or connecting means, any one of which may be used in any one of the four different positions which the switch stand may be required to occupy, accordingly as the switch turns out to the right or to the left in either one of two directions along thetrack.

The switch stand 1 has the lugs 12 under the slots 11 and 11, respectively, and the handle or lever 8 has an opening 12' through which either one of these lugs projects when the lever is brought down into its slot 11 or 11, while the lug 12 has an opening 12 adapted to receive the'bow or shackle of a padlock to engage against the outer face of the lever and lock it against removal from the slot 11 or 11 as the case may be. Another locking means for the lever consists of the lug 13 on the lever and projecting through an opening 13 in the end of the fulcrum-head 7 when the lever is in the slot 11 or 11', this look having an opening 13 to receive the part of the padlock. Either one of these locking means may be used. 7 I

Whether the main shaft 2 is operated through 180 or 90, or whether it has any other degree of rotation, is immaterial to as the case may be. The mechanism so'far described is similar to previously disclosed apparatus in switch stands.

As switch stands are usually constructed,

. the target is placed on an upward extension of the main shaft 2, and the target is not turned until the main shaft is turned and throws the switch. Where it is desired to operate'the interlocking mechanism only by means of my invention, this arrangement of the target maybe used in .connection therewith. But where the target is'to be operated preliminary to the switch throw-- ing movement, a separate shaft 15 isjournaled vertically, parallel with the main shaft 2, in upper and lower brackets 16 and 17, respectively, which are bolted to the switch standalong with the caps 3 and 1, respectively of the upper and lower bearings of the shaft 2. These brackets not only extend outwardly some distance from the main shaft but are also offset toward-one side of the switch stand. Below thelo-wer bracket 17 and arm 18 is pinned or otherwise suitably fixed to the target'shaft 15, while a collar 15 is fixed on the shaft 15 above the upper bracket 16 to support the shaft. The upper end of the target shaft carries the blades 19 and 20 extending at rightangles to each other and adapted, respectively, when turned in directions cross wise of the track to signal safety or danger. It will thus be seen that the target shaft 15 is to be rotated through only 90 whether the main shaft 2 be rotated through 90 as shown, or through 180 .as mav be desirable.

' The interlock and target operating lever 21 has a pivot 22 in one of the two stops 23 and 24: which are provided on the plate 10 for the fulcrum-head 7. This pivot 22 is substantially concentric with the pivot 9 of the switch-operating lever or handle 8. The lever 21 extends down and has, projecting over and flanking the switch-operating lever 8,the bifurcations 25, so that this interlock and target operating lever 21 is moved along with the switch-operating lever 8; the two levers swinging together on their substantially concentric pivots .9 and 22. Also bolted to the stand along with the cap 4- of the lower bearing of the main shaft 2 is a main bracket 26, comprising legs 27 that flank the middle of the cap 4: and a body .28 that is supported forwardsome distance by 7 these legs'27, leaving a space above the legs between this body 28 and the main shaft 2.

An arm 29 has a shaft30 with a horizon- V tal bearing in the body 28 of the main bracket 26, this arm being located in the aforesaid spacebetween the 'main bracket and the main shaft and extending horizontally over the bracket 17. A cap 31 bolted to the top of the main bracket 23 completes the bearing for the shaft 30; and where'the just the .radial length of the arm or eyeshaft 30 extends forward therefrom it has a head 32 in which is fixed an arm 33 in the form of an eye-bolt that has a threaded shank 34 that extends diametrically through an opening 32' in the head and is secured by a nut '35 on the end-part of the shank, this eye-bolt having at the other side of the head 2 a shoulder 36 that bears up against the head. A number of washers 37 are placed under the nut 35 or may be placed between the shoulder 36 and the other side ofthe head,. around the shank 34, a greater or lessnumber of these washers being used on oneside or the other of the head to adbolt 33 vto take up wear in the connections. Preferably, as shown, and as best seenin Fig. 2, the arm 29, its shaft 31 and the head 32 are made integral. In order that the structure thus made up may be reversible for use with the-interlocking mechanismat the other side of the stand, the head-32-is provided with an opening 32f V at right angles to the opening 32, so that this arm or eye-bolt may be secured inthis opening ,at right angles to theposition shown and thus extend overtoward the other side of the stand; while the arm 29 will extend in the opposite direction from that shown.

A connecting rod38 has an eye 39 through which it is pivoted to the interlock and tar-- get operating-lever 21 by means of a stud 410011 the lower-end of said'lever adjacent to its bifurcations 25; and the lower endof this rod 38 has a fork llo-ngitudinally ad- .j'ustably secured upon it and locked by means of a locknut 42,-this fork having its bifurcations flanking the free end of the.

arm 29, with a pin 43 passing .therethrough. Thus arranged, when the switch-operating lever'S is raisedout of the slot 11, raising the lever 21 with it, the ar1n'29 will be drawn up to substantially vertical position,

rotatingthe head '32and swinging-the arm or eye-bolt 33 through substantially in a vertical plane. The cap 31 01: the main bracket 26 is provided with a stop 4A: to

limit the arm 29 to its substantially vertical J position; and in order that such a stop may be provided for the arm 29 when the parts are reversed to use the interlocking mechanism at the other 's'ide-of'the stand, this cap 7 31 is provided with a stop 45 directly oppo: site from the stop 44. Thus the capmay be reversedon the bracket 26, bringing the stop 45 into use at the other side and bringing the stop 445 into disuse. It will be understood that for such reverse arrangement the interlock and target operating lever 21 would be pivoted on the opposite stop 21-of the plate 10, while'the brackets 16 and 17 would be reversed, bringing'the target shaft 15 at the opposite .side of thestand. r

As above stated, it may .be desirable not to have the separate target shaft'1'5,'and accordingly it is preferable that the lower bracket 17 be placed outside the leg 27 of the main bracket 26 so that this bracket 17 may be omitted without disturbing the arrangement of the main bracket. In such a case the upper bracket 16 would of course also be omitted.

The interlocking mechanism comprises an interlocking bar 47 connected to the point rail 48 of the switch by means of a guard 49, as seen in Fig. 1. This interlocking bar 47 extends over alongside one of the head blocks 50 on which the switch stand 1 is mounted, and the head block is gained or I recessed and receives a housing 51. The bar 47 slides through a part 52 of the housing that extends outside the head block 50. This housing 51 has lateral flanges 53 extending out over the top of the head block 50 at the sides of the gain or recess, through which the housing is screwed or bolted to the head block, completely covering the recess or gain around the sides of the housing. Sliding horizontally in the housing 51, at right angles to the interlocking bar 47 is the interlocking plunger 54. The interlocking bar 47 has an opening 55, and this interlocking plunger 54 can extend through this opening and out through the outside of the housing when the point rail 48 is drawn up close to the stock rail 56 and is perfectly safe for trafiic. The parts are so made, however, that if the point rail 48 is for any reason left any appreciable distance away from the stock rail 56 the plunger 54 cannot enter the opening 55.

Inside the gain or recess, the housing 51 has the guides 57 and 58 extending down with the plunger 54 sliding through them; and at the inner side of the guide 58 a cross head 59 has a hub 60 in which the inner end part of the plunge 54 is fixed. The main part 61 of the cross head is horizontal and is located in an upwardly extending hollow.

guideway 62 on the housing and has an arm 63 extending down to its hub 60. At its inner end this main part 61 has the lug 64 extending up, and a pitman 65, with forks at its ends, has the bifurcations of one fork flanking the lug 64 with. a pin 66 passing therethrough and pivoting it thereto, while the bifurcations of the fork at the other end flank the eye of the arm or eye-bolt 33 with a pin 67 passing theretl'irough and pivoting it to this arm or eye-bolt 33. In order that the lug 64 may slide into the end of the hollow guideway 62, the inner end and the part of its top near this end. are left open as shown.

Projecting out from the end of the main part 61 of the cross head is a horizontal lug 68; and another pitman 69, with forks at both ends, has the bifurcations of one fork flanking the lug 68 above and below, with a pin 70 passing therethrough and pivoting it thereto, while the fork at the othcrend has its bifurcations flanking the arm 18 above and below, with a pin 71 passing therethrough and pivoting it to this arm 18, which arm is fixed on the lower end of the target shaft 15 as previously described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the switch-operating lever 8 is raised, bringing the interlock and target operating lever 21 with it and raising the arm 29 to vertical position, and swinging the arm or eye-bolt 33 through an angle of 90, this arm or eye-bolt 33 will operate, through the pitman 65 and cross head 59, to withdraw the interlocking plunger 54 from the opening 55 in the interlocking bar 47, releasing the interlocking bar 47 to permit the movement of the point rail 48 away from the stock rail 56 in the switch-throwing operation.

At the same time, the cross head 59 will opcrate through the pitman 69 and the arm 18 to turn the target shaft 15 and its target elements 19 and 20 through the required angle of 90 to change the target from safety to danger position.

If desired, the interlocking plunger 54 may be provided with a locking mechanism consisting of a vertical bolt '72 which seats in a notch or recess 73 in the upper side of the plunger 54 between the guides 57 and 58, there being a casing 74 formed in the housing 51 between these guides and extending up above the housing at the outer end of the guicleway 62, with a top having an opening 75 for the bolt 72 to pass through. Above the top of the casing the bolt has a head 76. At the outer side of the casing 7-1 are upwardly extending lugs 77, between which is pivoted a treadle 78 by means of a pin 79. This treadle has an upwardly inwardly extending arm 80, the free end of which is pivoted to the head 76 of the bolt 72, so that when the treadle 78 is depressed the bolt 72 will be raised out of the notch or recess 7 3 in the interlocking bar 54. To normally press the bolt 72 down in this notch or recess, a helical spring 81 is placed around the bolt inside the casing 74 between the lower side of the top of the casing and a dowir wardly cupped washer 82 on the bolt which i held thereon by a pin 83 passing through the bolt inside the cupped part of the washer and prevented from leaving its position by the rim of this cupped part at both sides. The pin 83 is inserted into its position in the bolt 7 2 through an opening 84 in the guide 58 at the inner side of the casing 74, while the cupped washer 82 is raised against the pressure of the spring 81, and when the pin has reached its position, the spring 81 forces the cupped washer 82 down over the pin and holds it there, so that the pin maintains the washer in position and the washer maintains the pin in position.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the 'main bracket '26 has its legs 27 much shorter so that it is back close to the main shaft 2, and an arm 29 is on the front end of the shaft 3O held in the main bracket 26 by the cap 31, being thus adjacent to the head 39f on the front end of the shaft 30 At the rear of the main'bracket 26 the shaft 30 merely has a head 30 which prevents it from moving forwardly out of its -bearing. The head 32 has the bifurcated eye-bolt or arm 53 with threadedshank 31* extending diametrically through the opening 32 in the head, and secured by a nut 35 at one side and by its shoulder 36 at the other side, with washers 37 for adjusting its radial length. Like the cone spondin g parts in the first example, the arm 29, shaft 30 and its head 30 and the head 32 are made integral; and to make 'them reversible the head 32 has another opening 32 at right angles to the opening 32 The connecting rod 38 has the fork 41 with its bifurcations flanking the free end of the arm 29, with a pin passing therethrough, so that this arm is thus operatively connected to the interlock-operating and target-operating lever 21, not

shown in Fig. 2. The cap 30 has the stops -44 and 4.5 to hunt the arm 29 to vertical position, it being the forward stop that acts in this example, the stops 2 being provided for reversibility as in the previous example. The target shaft 15 is mounted in the bracket 17 as in the previousexample, and has the arm 18 fixed on itslower end part. The interlocking mechanism is the same as in the previous example, and comprises the cross head 59 in the guideway 62 of the housing 51 secured to the head block through its flanges 53. This cross head has the lug 641 as in the previous example, but the pitman comprises the short rod 65" adjustably secured in the fork 65" and locked by a lock nut 65. This fork 65 has its bifurcations flanking the lug 64:, with a pin 66 passing therethrough and pivoting it thereto. The other end of the short rod 65 has an eye flanked by bifurcations of the eye-bolt or arm 33, with a pin 67 passing therethrough and pivoting it to this arm or eye-bolt 33 The end of the main part 61 of the cross head 59 has two horizontal lugs (38, and ashort rod '69" has an eye received between these lugs with a. pin 7O passing therethrough and pivoting it thereto, while at the other end this short rod 69 is adjustably secured in a forked head 69 and locked therein by a lock nut 69, said forked head having its bifurcations flanking the arm 18 above and below, with a pin '71 passing therethrough and pivoting it to this arm 18, which arm is fixed on the lower end of the target shaft '15 as previously alluded to. The operation of this modification of my invention is substantially the same as that of the example shown in Fig. 1, but has some'advantage in that the-main bracket 26 does not extend out so far; and by makingthe pitman connections between the arms and the. cross head of the interlocking mechanism adjustable, the installation of the .apparatus is greatly facilitated.

\Vith either example it is desirable to have the housing 51 of the interlocking mechanism abut the end of the base of the switch stand, and preferably the end of the base has a. recess while. the housing has a lug 86 to enter: the recess, so that the hous ing and the switch stand are more accurately positioned relative to each other. The hous ing may have another lug 86 at its opposite side, to engage inthe recess 85 in the end of the switch stand base at the other side, where the interlocking mechanism is to be used on the other head block, for a switch turning out in the opposite direction along the track.

Having fully described .my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. In combination with a switch stand and interlocking mechanism for said switch stand, an interlock-operating lever mounted on said switch stand and swinging in substantially a single plane, a switch-operating element requiring initial movement in one plane before being movable 1n another plane to operate the switch, and disengageable operative connection between this element and said lever, whereby said lever is swung during said initial movement of said element, and operative connection between said lever and said interlocking mechanism, comprising two arms and a shaft fixed together, a bearing for the shaft whereby said arms swing in a plane substantially parallel with that of said interlock-operating lever, connecting rod from said lever to one of the arms, and connection from the other arm to the interlocking mechanism.

2. An operative connection for aswitchstand interlock-operating lever andfan intel-locking mechanism, comprising an arm, a shaft and a head fixed together, a bearing for said shaft, and'an arm adjustably secured in said head, a connectingrod fromf 7 said lever to the first mentioned arm, and

operative connection from'the adjustably se- 7 cured arm to the interlocking inechanlsm.

3. An operative connection for a switchstand interlock-operating lever. and, an interlocking mechanism, comprising an arm, a shaft and a head fixed together, a bearing for said shaft, an arm removably fixed in said head, said head having means whereby the arm may befixed therein at a substan tially different angle, a connecting rod from said lever to said firstementioned arm, op-

erative connection fromsaid lever to "said first mentioned arm, and operative connection from the removably fixed arm to the interlocking mechanism.

4:. An operative connection for a switchstand interlock-operating lever and an interlocking mechanism, comprising an arm, a shaft and a head fixed together, a bearing for said shaft, an arm removably fixed in said head, said head having means whereby the arm may be fixed therein at a substantially different angle, a connecting rod from said lever to said first mentioned arm, operative connection from the removably fixed arm to the interlocking mechanism, and a stop on said bearing for one of said arms.

5. An operative connection for a switchstand interlocleoperating lever and an interlocking mechanism, comprising an arm, a shaft and a head fixed together, a bearing for said shaft, an arm removably fixed in said head, said head having means whereby the arm may be fixed therein at a substantially difierent angle, a connecting rod from said lever to said first mentioned arm, operative connection from the removably fixed arm to the interlocking mechanism, said bearing comprising a cap which is reversible thereon, and stops on said cap for one of said arms, either one or the other of said stops coming into use accordingly as the cap is reversed or not.

6. An operative connection for a switchstand interlock-operating lever and an interlocking mechanism, comprising an arm, a shaftand a head fixed together, a bearing for said shaft, an arm removably fixed in said head, said head having means whereby the arm may be fixed therein at a substantially different angle, a connecting rod from said lever to said first mentioned arm, operative connection from the removably fixed arm to the interlocking mechanism, said bearing comprising a cap which is reversible there- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner on, and stops on said cap at opposite sides thereof, either one of which is adapted to be brought into position to stop the first mentioned arm accordingly as the cap is reversed or not.

7. In combination with a switch stand and interlocking mechanism for said switch stand, a main switch-operating shaft, a switch-operating element connected to said shaft and requiring initial movement in one plane before being movable in another plane to operate the switch, an interlock-opersting lever swinging in a vertical plane transversely of the switch stand, and means for operative engagement between the switch-operating element and this interlockoperating lever whereby the lever and the element move together during the initial movement of said element, an upper bearing and a lower bearing for said main switchoperating shaft, said element being connected to said shaft adjacent to the upper bearing, a main bracket mounted on said switch stand adjacent to the lower bearing, and operative connection from the interlocl:operating lever to the interlocking mechanism comprising two arms and a horizontal shaft fixed together, said main bracket forming a bearing for said hori zontal shaft, whereby said arms swing in vertical planes transversely of the switch stand, a connecting rod connecting said interlock-operating lever to one of the arms, and operative connection from the other arm to the interlocking mechanism, said interlocking mechanism being mounted at one side of the switch stand.

FRANK O. ANDERSON.

Witnesses JAMES N. RAMSEY, CLARENCE PERDEW.

of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

